Authorities in California have arrested a man found with a firearm and unlawful ammunition at President Donald Trump’s golf course in the Los Angeles area, two days before the president was due to attend a Republican fundraising event at the site.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Jeanine John Taele, 38, was detained on Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes after plainclothes federal agents alerted local officers to a suspicious person on the property.
Investigators said Taele had been seen walking around the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to observe security planning activity. The president was scheduled to visit the course on Tuesday for a fundraising dinner during a rare trip to California.
Taele is being held on allegations of carrying a concealed firearm and possessing armour-piercing or otherwise prohibited ammunition, according to the sheriff’s department. Officials said the investigation remains active and that additional charges could be considered.
The department said officers who confronted Taele also discovered he was wanted by the El Segundo Police Department in connection with a robbery investigation. El Segundo is about 15 miles north of Rancho Palos Verdes, a wealthy coastal community known for its hillside neighbourhoods and views over the Pacific Ocean.
During a search, deputies found Taele carrying a 16-round magazine containing hollow-point ammunition, officials said. A search of his vehicle, which was parked at the golf course, led to the discovery of a loaded pistol and another loaded magazine containing hollow-point rounds.
California has some of the strictest firearm restrictions in the United States, including limits on magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Hollow-point ammunition is designed to expand on impact, increasing tissue damage, and its possession can be subject to legal restrictions depending on the circumstances and local rules.
On Monday, agents from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Major Crimes Bureau searched Taele’s home in Downey, another city in the Los Angeles area. The sheriff’s department said the search was carried out because of the “potential security implications” of the incident.
According to the department, investigators found an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, a .45-calibre pistol, body armour, high-capacity magazines, ammunition for rifles and pistols, and several notebooks containing what officials described as concerning statements.
The US Secret Service is assisting with the inquiry. The sheriff’s department said authorities had not identified any credible threat to local communities, but said the case showed the importance of vigilance and coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Officials have not said Taele intended to harm Trump, and he has not been charged with any offence alleging such a plan. The available charges relate to firearms and ammunition offences, and the separate robbery matter for which authorities said he was wanted.
The arrest came as Trump travelled to California for political events, including the planned Republican fundraiser at his Rancho Palos Verdes property. The White House said he was expected to deliver remarks critical of California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure who is widely viewed as a possible future presidential contender.
Trump was also scheduled to travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday to speak at a casino. The appearances come as political activity increases ahead of the November mid-term elections, when control of Congress will be at stake.
Security around Trump has been under close scrutiny following previous attempts on his life. After a recent incident in Washington, officials responsible for protecting the president said security procedures would be reviewed.
The Rancho Palos Verdes case remains under investigation, with federal and local agencies continuing to examine the firearms, ammunition and other material seized. Authorities have said there is no confirmed wider threat, but the arrest has added to attention on presidential security during public and political travel.
